KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress President Gagan Thapa has said that the party’s transformation goes beyond merely changing its leadership faces. Speaking at the formation and announcement ceremony of the Kathmandu-4 Congress Election Deployment Core Committee on Saturday, Thapa claimed that the party’s thinking and approach have evolved.
“Congress today has changed and stands before the country and the people,” Thapa said. “Has Congress changed simply because we changed its leaders’ faces? No. Changing faces is just a normal process. The party’s thinking has changed, its commitments have changed, its style will change, and so will its actions. The results will also be new.”
Thapa said Nepali Congress has embraced the call of the new generation and now stands with renewed energy and ideas. At the same time, he expressed pride in the party’s heritage, asserting that the new Congress will move forward by retaining the good aspects of the old Congress.
“There are also new expectations from citizens. People expect the party to prioritize good governance, maintain zero tolerance against corruption, and be principled rather than merely power-driven. They would rather see a party relinquish power than compromise its principles,” Thapa said.
Addressing the aspirations of young people, he said the youth want political parties to be smart and efficient. “They want their voices to be heard. They want the party to maintain its dignity. They want it to reflect the spirit of past movements, not become just an election machine,” he added.
Thapa also announced that the party’s 15th General Convention will take place ahead of the upcoming local and provincial elections. During the Kathmandu-4 program, he revealed that candidates for the elections will now be chosen at the ward level through a primary election.
“Before the new local and provincial elections, the party convention will take place. The new convention will ensure that candidates’ tickets are selected by ward members themselves,” Thapa said. He added that no aspirant would need to visit the party president’s or general secretary’s house to seek a ticket.
The Congress chief also declared an end to internal factionalism and the previous 60–40 power-sharing formula. “There are no factions in this party anymore. The 60–40 system of the past has ended. There will be no internal or external quota. The party will treat everyone equally,” he said.
Highlighting a campaign to strengthen both citizens and party members, Thapa stressed that no one will have “unnatural relations” with the party president in closed offices. “This is the changed Congress. No one will have any unnatural relationship with the president here,” he said.
Thapa also reflected on his difficult decision to leave Kathmandu-4 and move to Sarlahi, saying he could not hide his emotions during the transition. “When the decision was made, friends were crying and so was I. Leading the country requires embracing the Madhesh. I want to connect Madhesh with Kathmandu, not divide it. Please don’t say I abandoned Kathmandu-4. I am still here. I am here to change Madhesh,” he said.
Recalling the love he received from Kathmandu-4 during his three electoral victories, Thapa said, “Even in 2022, I was afraid, but you removed my fear. The same applies to those I meet in Sarlahi. People didn’t vote for me just as a Congress leader—they voted out of love.”
He expressed confidence that the upcoming election in Kathmandu-4 will be easier than previous contests. “The environment was positive. People wanted me to contest from here until the end, even members of other parties said so,” Thapa said.
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